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Posts Tagged ‘Alan Bond’

Alan Carpenter was haunted by Brian Burke. Now Colin Barnett could face the spectre of Alan Bond moving from past to present.

The page 1 headline in The Sunday Times today read: “Bondy’s back – and reveals he wants to stay for good this time.”

Inside Bond made a comment that “I will be back here full time in about 12 months”. Maybe he said it in passing, maybe it’s something he’s thought about seriously. Anyway, the paper made it into it’s big story for the week though it’s not on the website so maybe they’ve since changed their mind.

The people most haunted by Bond are the shareholders who were ruined after their trust in Bond in the 80s and early 90s. But like any master of reinvention, he’s shed that skin. He told the Sunday Times:

“I think you go through life and learn many lessons. And I think today I am a better businessman than I was then even, because you get the yin and yang.

There was a downturn in the economy, the banks that were lending to us went broke, a number went at the same time.

Unfortunately, because I was one of the highest profiles, I took a lot of the flak.

If your gearing is too high, as it is around the world with a lot of people, you are going to get hurt at some stage if the music stops.”

Unless you are a crook, of course.

I like the stuff about yin and yang. I wonder if Bond’s earthy yearning for home, where he and Di Bliss have a house at Cottesloe, has anything to do with the fact WA’s going gangbusters and there’s gold in them thar suckers.

Another Sunday Times non-story or not, there’s an interesting hypothetical.

What if Bond comes back? Is it a metaphor for the bad old days of big business rorts, just as Burke was a symbol of political rorts. Labor thought it had exorcised its demons then let Burke back in. And how did that turn for you Mr Carpenter?

Bond had been keeping a low profile but then he popped up on the BRW rich list this year and this week showed up to celebrate some old yachting victory. As we’ve said before, he deserves recognition for all he’s contributed to the people of this state.

The Barnett government has already waved the flag for development so it’s like the 80s all over again. Complete with ghosts of crimes past.

He has worked his way back into the BRW rich list and it has people talking. But instead of hanging criticisms on the poor hard-working guy, we thought we’d celebrate all that is Alan Bond and share reasons why you should too.

1. He is a light to show us just what we can achieve if we put our mind to it and that can-do kind of guy is just what we need in WA as all the other can-do kind of guys just shake our faith (think Brian Burke, Neale Fong, Troy Buswell). From his own website:

Dedication and sound management are also a big part of Bond’s world vision and the commitment and spirit to partnering with developing nations is highlighted in the way he works and this remains as strong today as it has ever been.

…He has always been very strong on all levels of communication

2. For ADHD kids and elderly dementia patients the world over, Bondy shows that mental illness is not a life sentence. Bond-chaser Paul Barry says on news.com.au:

Fourteen years ago, Alan Bond was brain damaged and a broken man. The poor guy could barely remember his name, let alone whether he had $50 million in bank accounts in Switzerland.

He sat in the Federal Court in Sydney, staring into space for minutes on end, then turning to his interrogator to claim he had forgotten the question.

Whether Bondy just cut out the food colourings or scoffs the ritalin, he proves the disabled are able. His success says: You might call me crooked, just don’t call me crook.

3. The country is going through a skills crisis, a shortage of labour, so anyone who can get the retired back into the workforce needs our thanks. If Bondy’s rorting of people’s life savings doesn’t get them back in the job queue, nothing will.

4. Jail, illness and social ostracism characterised the convicts sent to Australia to build it into the great nation you see before you. Bondy is both a reminder of how far we’ve come and how far we can go with a little grit and larrikinism. He is our collective unconscious on display before us. If there’s something wrong with him, there’s something wrong with us so best look the other way if you don’t like it.

5. He has more front than Madonna when it comes to reinvention and rewriting his own history. How’s this pitch to overseas investors:

Following huge TV successes in Australia, including the acquisition and expansion of Channel Nine …

Yes, there is only one Alan Bond in a lifetime … get in while you can.

6. We get Nigerian scammers from Africa, Africa gets Alan Bond. Again, from his website to lure investors in his African mines:

Named as Australian of the year (1978), which recognises and rewards those Australians who have a consistent record of excellence and made outstanding achievement in their field, Alan remains a family man with his family always taking an active part in his successes.

As Lesotho Diamond Corporation will be providing greatly needed new jobs this particular charity activity will give extra security and structure where the business cannot. It will particularly help children and families with education and health. It is envisaged that each year the charity will make a big impact and a significant difference in the lives of people in Lesotho.